*** UPDATE ***
It was announced Sunday in Walnut Creek that the Dragons just missed the twelfth and final spot in the post-season seeding. That place went to Ygnacio Valley of Concord, with a record of 6-4.
***
In a time of great need, the Sonoma Dragons stepped up and delivered on their end of the bargain.
Now it’s up to the Football Gods to deliver on theirs.
Needing to win their final three games to qualify for the NCS Division II playoffs, the Dragons did exactly that, finishing off their regular season with a 40-20 win over the San Marin Mustangs in a non-league matchup.
On Senior Night, it’s appropriate that the senior players who carried this team throughout the season shined on a big stage.
Senior running back Nick Fedrick had the best game of his varsity career, going for 251 yards on 37 carries (unofficial) and a 3-yard touchdown run. He rushed for over 1,300 yards this year and only started in nine games, and finished the year with 16 touchdowns on the ground.
Senior quarterback Jake Powers had a great game, throwing three touchdowns, two to star senior wideout Steve Filippi, who passed the 1,000-yard receiving plateau, becoming just the second Dragon to do it, and the first since Ian Albrecht in 2006. Filippi has been one of the best receivers in the Bay Area, and he’s done it in what is not his best sport, as he’s the centerpiece of the Dragon baseball team.
Of course, three-year starter Mike Mulas, the senior middle linebacker who is the leader on defense, had a great game, including a tackle in the endzone that earned the defense their first safety of the season. He was a top tackler in the state of California once again after knee problems hampered him in the early going. Now healthy and with college football in his sights, he will look to continue his football career at a Division I school.
However, since the Dragons finished at 5-5, Mulas and the rest of the Dragons might continue their careers at the high school level in the playoffs. They are a long shot in the 12-team field, but longtime coaches Mick O’Meara and Mike Mulas will travel to the seeding meeting in Walnut Creek on Sunday to present their case.
Results from the seeding meeting will be in the Tuesday edition of the Sun.
